Process for duplicating natural objects

ABSTRACT

A method for producing copies of natural objects including the steps of applying an electricity-conducting coating to a specimen natural object, electrolytically plating a metal shell about the object, attaching auxiliary mounting or fastening element to said object either after or before said plating step, development of a flexible mold element on the surfaces of the plated natural object, and subsequently utilizing said flexible mold in connection with conventional casting operations to obtain one or more copies of the natural object. Fine features of the natural object are simulated by separately applied components or decorations.

States Patent I 12] Inventor Robert C. Hall Box 544, Rollinsville, Colo. 80474 [211 Appl, No 795,523 [221 Filed Jan. 31, 1969 {45] Patented Aug. 24,1971

[54] PROCESS FOR DUPLICATING NATURAL OBJECTS 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 164/45, 29/5271 204/23, 264/222 [51} 1:11. Cl 1322c 7/00 {50} Field of Search t. 29/527.l; 164/45. 34; 264/219, 222, 223, 225-227; 204/6, 23 X [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,058 12/1913 Wienand 264/226 X 1,296,453 3/1919 Bart 204/9 1,296,498 3/1919 Fodor 204/9 2,271,454 l/1942 Erdle et all 264/227 2,341,999 2/1944 Lennington 264/226 2,479,598 8/1949 Barber et a1. 4. 164/34 X 3,133,371 5/1964 Christensen." 204/9 X 3,362,463 l/l968 Manginelli..... 164/34 Primary ExaminerCharlie T Moon Attorney-C. B. Messenger ABSTRACT: A method for producing copies of natural objects including the steps of applying an electricity-conducting coating to a specimen natural object, electrolytically plating a metal shell about the object, attaching auxiliary mounting or fastening element to said object either after or before said plating step, development of a flexible mold element on the surfaces of the plated natural object, and subsequently utilizing said flexible mold in connection with conventional casting operations to obtain one or more copies of the natural object.

Fine features of the natural object are simulated by separately applied components or decorations.

PATENTEI] 1924197:

INVENTOR. ROBERT C. HA LL ATTORNEY FIG. 6-is a top view showing the derived cast object together 7 with separate fine feature elements that are to beapplied In general the present invention is directed primarily to the creation or ornamental objects of the type that may be used for display jewelry or other similar purposes. Previously, others have made jewelry and token pieces that simulated a natural object, such as leaves, butterflies, bugs,-flowers, etc. Predominantly such objects have been made by hand processes, but more recently individual natural or living-type objects have been made directly into ornaments by metal-plating processes. While such objects have been widely accepted, they have been relatively expensive. There is also considerable difficulty in obtaining an adequate supply of specimens that will produce satisfactory andeffective ornaments. To overcome some of these prior difficulties the present invention presents a system for the production of a plurality of items that duplicate a single original natural object.

Kosikar U.S. Pat. No. 2,725,654 is representative of previous handmade ornamental insects. Mass U.S. Pat. No. 1,622,430 is representative of a previous process for metallizingot coating an inanimate natural object for ornamental purposes. In the nonornamental art, Kassabian U.S. Pat. No. 2,023,685 presents a process for metal coating a living-type subject.

All of the previous disclosures have a limited production potential, and the processes disclosed are not suitable'for the provision of a plurality of simulated natural objects in the manner of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, the present invention provides a method and process for obtaining a plurality of simulated natural objects that will be near identical to the initial specimen. In the practice of the invention a natural living-type specimen or a specimen inanimate object is selected for duplication. The selected nonliving object is first sprayed with an electrictyconducting coating. Subsequently a metal coating is electrolytically plated about the object to completely encase such object. Thereafter, or previous to the plating step, posts, clips or the like are attached to the object to facilitatelater display and useage. A flexible mold, which may bemade of various types of mold rubbers, is then cast about the metal-plated object. The flexible rubber mold piece is then subsequently used to provide a casting bed for an objectduplicating the shape and size of the initial metal-plated natural object. Usually the main body and many of the distinctive fine features of the natural object can be duplicated in this manner. Where insects are to be duplicated it is sometimes necessary to subsequently add fine features, such as insect antennae and thelike, to the cast duplicate. These fine features can be added by machine or manual processes. On completion the cast duplicate has an attractive and natural appearance that is readily suited for ornamental and display purposes. Since the object may be of cast metal, clips and chains or various mounting devices can be applied by manual or machineprocesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of a specimen live object,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation showing the application of an electricity-conducting coating to the exterior shell ofthe natural object;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation showing the deposition of a metal coating about the original living-type object,

FIG. 4 shows the formation of a flexible mold about .the object of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a top elevation through a moldderived from the flexible mold of FIG. 4 showing a mold cavity in dotted outline together with pins inserted to provide holes in the as-cut" object adapted to receive limbs and fine features of the object being duplicated, and

thereto. v 7

Further features and advantages of the invention are presented in connection with a description of a preferred ernbodiment of the invention. Since bugs, insects, butterflies and similar small objects are used extensively for jewelry and ornamental purposes, the drawings illustrate a preferred embodi ment of the invention as adapted to the duplication of livingtype small objects. .The process described can, however, be used for the duplication of inanimate objects, such as leaves, flowers, crystal shapes and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As seen in FIG. 1, a specimen bug 11 that has been chosen for duplication is first anesthetized and killed. Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a coat 12 of electricity-conducting material is sprayed over the exterior surfaces of the ,bug 11. When the bug or object has been completely coated, the clips or wires of an electroplating system are attached, and a netalplated shell 13 is deposited about the object. The me tal-platposts 14 may be applied to the already metalencased 11 or in some instances a post element may be inserted in the object 11' at the timeof the FIG. 2 step and before the plating operation. Where the post is applied before plating the plating will surround and thicken the post, and thereafter the plated post will be firmly and integrally a part of the plated shell 13. The described alternate methodin whicha post .is applied ahead of the plating step can save time and,effort, and it does in some instances provide a better and more securely attached post to which later fasteners may be applied.

The plated object .11, the metal shell 13am! posts ,14 are next encased in a'flexible' mold material, such as the rubber mold 16, as shown in FIG. 4. The rubberisintimately placed about the exterior shell 13, and, accordingly, .it closely duplicates the exterior featuresof the plated shell Band of the original object 11. At the time ofthis step additionalcore pieces, such as the antenna cores 17 and leg cores 18, shown in .FlG.-5,canbeapplied.

7 When the flexible moldhas been fully cured,- it,may.b e divided along a parting line 19 so that the object '1 I' can be removed. Subsequently a plurality of rubber .plugs may be made in the rubber mold 16. The derived plugs (notshown) can be used to obtain a plurality of cavity moldsof plasterior other mold-making materials so that a plurality of ,natural objects can then be cast of metal. In similar mannenthe llexible mold 16 itself can be duplicated or usedin its derived condition for the production of a plurality of objectsofplaster, ceramics, rubber, plastic, or even metals of lower melting point.

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of a plaster-type mold 21 into which a plurality of cores [7 and I) are insertedprevious-to the investment of metal introduced into thebug-shapedcavity 22. When the object-has been cast in the mold 2l the mold can be separated or destroyed to removea cast duplicate 2 3. of the body of the original object ll. Usually the legs and wi ngs, etc. of insects can be closelyduplicated by the described process. Accordingly, these features will usually be directly nae or feelers, the details of which may be lost in the metalplating process, can be simulated by hand-applied wire or coiled wire components that are inserted in a receptacle opening 24 provided by the body 23. These features can also be attached to the body by solder or cements.

Many cast duplicates 23 can be reproduced through use of the original flexible mold 16 or through use of the plurality of plugs derived therefrom. The process, accordingly, makes it possible to develop and provide a plurality of items for sale that closely resemble the initially plated shell 13 or the original natural object 11. Since a prime specimen can be selected for duplication, the reproduced product can have prime features as well as a very attractive appearance.

Objects made in accordance with the processes described can be sold at considerably less expense than individually treated and plated single objects. Where finding posts or other attaching features are incorporated in the molds, the assembly operations can similarly be reduced in complexity and cost to provide further sales advantages.

While the duplication of an insect has been shown and described, the process may be readily adapted for the duplication of other living-type and inanimate objects. The step processes used in the reproduction of such other objects will be nearly identical to those here described. The range of objects that may be duplicated in the described manner is quite extensive, and, accordingly, many different objects may be made for display, ornamental or jewelry purposes through practice of this invention. Where a flexible mold is utilized, less or little attention needs to be given to the analysis of draft angles, parting lines and the like. With the avoidance of these conventional casting problems the derived objects will have an improved appearance and fewer hand-finishing operations will be necessary.

. lclaim: v

1 The method for duplicating natural objects to provide items of jewelry and the like which comprises coating a specimen natural object with an electricity-conducting film, electrolytically depositing a thin shell about the specimen, casting a flexible mold about said shell, utilizing the flexible mold to derive investment mold elements, and subsequently casting duplicate objects in said investment mold elements to provide copies of said original specimen natural objects for decorative purposes.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said copies are of metal.

3. The method of claim 1 in which finding components are applied to said specimen object prior to the electrolytic deposition step whereby attachments are more readily applied to the derived copies.

4. The method of claim 1 in which finding components are applied after the electrolytic deposition step.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said investment mold elements are of plaster.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of applying core elements to said molds to provide receptacles in the body of said copies for the reception of additional features. 

2. The method of claim 1 in which said copies are of metal.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which finding components are applied to said specimen object prior to the electrolytic deposition step whereby attachments are more readily applied to the derived copies.
 4. The method of claim 1 in which fiNding components are applied after the electrolytic deposition step.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said investment mold elements are of plaster.
 6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of applying core elements to said molds to provide receptacles in the body of said copies for the reception of additional features. 